Iowa Fishing Report 7-28-2011

Basshawk

Iowa Fishing Report Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Location
North Liberty, Iowa
#1
For immediate release: July 28, 2011

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.

NORTHWEST
Nelson Park Lake
Nelson Park has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies. Fishing has been slow for all species.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake
Yellow Smoke has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies. Water clarity is excellent. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few channel catfish are being caught around the lake on night crawlers. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been picking up a few big bluegills around the submerged trees in 8 to 10 feet of water. Use a small piece of night crawler for bait.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Crawford Creek has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Boaters use caution. The hydraulic dredge is in operation at Storm Lake. Stay clear of dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Anglers are allowed three walleye per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released; only one of the three fish can be over 22 inches. Channel Catfish - Good: Use the usual baits like stink bait, shrimp, cut bait, and minnows. White Bass - Fair: Cast white twisters or shad colored crankbaits. Look for white bass breaking the surface pursuing baitfish and cast into the school. Walleye - Slow: Boat anglers have been doing the best for walleye. Most anglers are drifting or trolling bottom bouncers with a crawler harness or a leech around the dredge cuts. The Mustad Slow Death hooks have been very popular with the anglers. Trolling small shad colored crankbaits has been working well.

North Twin Lake
Water temperature is in the 80s. Channel catfish and yellow bass fishing remains fair around the lake.

Black Hawk Lake
Anglers are allowed three walleye per day and all fish must be at least 15 inches. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Fish for channel catfish within 20 feet of shore. Anglers have been having good luck using various baits, especially leeches and crayfish.

Browns Lake
The boat ramp is closed, but boaters may utilize the lake with electric trolling motors (no outboards) for power. Also, those wishing to kayak or canoe would be able to use Brown's Lake. Any boaters choosing to go onto Brown's Lake will need to load their boat without the use of the ramp. Campground is open and fishing from shore is allowed.

Snyder Bend Lake
Snyder Bend is closed to boat traffic.

Great Western Park Lake
Great Western Park has the invasive plant brittle naiad. Be sure to clean boat and trailer before you leave lake to avoid spreading this species to other water bodies.

Little Sioux Park Lake
Water is very clear. Anglers have been catching some bluegill and catfish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Fishermen have been catching some 2 to 3 pound cats mostly at night, using mainly nightcrawlers and liver. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill fishing a piece of nightcrawler on a small hook under a bobber.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)
River conditions are still high. Some anglers are catching catfish in Little Sioux backwaters.

Aquatic vegetation has come in at many of the lakes in the area. Boaters and anglers should inspect their boats, trailers, and live wells to avoid spreading nuisance species to other water bodies. For more information on lakes and rivers in this area contact Ben Wallace or Don Herrig at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Eldred Sherwood Lake
Try for channel catfish using crawlers, chicken liver, or stink bait fished off the bottom. Try for panfish with crawlers fished under a bobber or small plastic baits on a jig. Be aware that this lake contains brittle naiad. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before going to another water body.

Lake Smith
Try for channel catfish using crawlers, chicken liver, or stink bait fished off the bottom. Panfish can still be caught using a piece of crawler on a small jig or hook fished under a bobber.

Clear Lake
Walleye fishing has been fair, try fishing live bait on the reefs. Channel catfish are biting on chicken liver and stink bait fished on the bottom. Yellow bass fishing has been slow. Clear Lake contains zebra mussels. Please clean, drain, and dry your boat and equipment before going to another water body.

Lake Cornelia
Walleye fishing has been fair. Fish from 15 to 18 inches have been biting on live bait.

Crystal Lake
Try for largemouth bass using plastic tube baits, spinners, or just a jig and crawler. Bluegill of a variety of sizes can be caught on crawlers fishing from the jetties.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call the Clear Lake fisheries office at 641-357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake
Due to high water a 600-foot No Wake Zone is in effect until further notice. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Anglers are still catching smallmouth while casting in the bulrushes and above the submergent vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Good: Many largemouth bass have been reported while using the same tactics as fishing for smallmouth. Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are reporting a limited number of Yellow Perch being caught. Action will improve in coming weeks. Walleye - Good: Walleye fishing is good along the weed beds and Stoney Point with leeches and crawlers during early morning hours for best action.

East Okoboji Lake
Due to high water levels a 600-foot No Wake Zone is in effect until further notice. Channel Catfish - Good: Good fishing after dark using stink bait and other traditional baits. White Bass - Good: Watch for schooling fish breaking the water and use a minnow or minnow-like bait for best action. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been reported along rocky points and wader fisherman at the spillway early in the morning and before sunset. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass are being caught while fishing for white bass.

Little Spirit Lake
Bullhead - Good: Try fishing on the bottom with a night crawler near the outlet.

Silver Lake (****inson)
Channel Catfish - Good: Try fishing toward evening hours with a dead chub or stink bait. White Bass - Good: Watch for schooling fish chasing minnows and fish with minnow or minnow-like baits.

West Okoboji Lake
Due to high water levels a 600-foot No Wake Zone is in effect until further notice. Northern Pike - Good: Pike have been reported using the same tactics as fishing for largemouth bass. Bluegill - Good: For the best action fish docks and weed lines associated with deep water. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fishing is good along deep weed lines associated with inside turns using traditional baits.

Big Sioux River
The Chris Walrod memorial catfish tournament "Skilly Slam" will be held at Plymouth County Park north of Akron on August 6. Check bigsiouxcatanglers.com for more details. Channel Catfish - Good: As water levels drop, fishing will continue to pick up for channel cats.

Due to high water a 600-foot No Wake Zone is in effect until further notice. Area rivers are still at bank-full flow and fishing is still good for channel catfish if you find backwater eddies. For more information, contact the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST
Volga Lake
Construction will be occurring on the road to the lake and new campground through Labor Day baring any delays. The lake and campground will be inaccessible during construction.

Lake Hendricks
Work continues on a fishing jetty on the southeast side of the lake. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try angling during the early morning and late evening. Bluegill - Slow: Try using a worm fished under a bobber.

Lake Meyer
Channel Catfish - Slow: Anglers have been using dead fish for best results. Bluegill - Slow: Nice sized bluegills are being caught off the weed line in about 7 to 9 feet of water. Try using a small piece of worm fished under a bobber or a small jig.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)
Try hitting the deeper pools and areas where tributaries dump into the river. Many species are stacked there this time of year. Smallmouth Bass - Slow: Try using a crawfish plastic jig. Walleye - Slow: A jig tipped with a worm is still the best bet floated through deeper holes.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Anglers are reporting good catches of walleye and smallmouth bass using crankbaits, twister tails or drifting crawlers along the bottom. Channel Catfish - No Report: Smallmouth Bass - Good: Walleye - Good:

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water temperature is in the mid 70s. Angling activity has been slow. Fish activity should pick up this week. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try using chicken liver or dead chubs for best luck. With this hot weather, try a good stink bait. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - Slow: A few walleye are being caught.

Decorah District Streams
Terrestrial dry fly fishing remains excellent on northeast Iowa streams, and July fly fishing has been superb. Effective patterns that have recently taken good trout include hoppers, crickets, beetles and various caddisflies. Prince nymphs have been good for anglers who prefer nymphing. For spin fishing, try using jigs or plastics that imitate crawfish. For stocking information, please call 563-927-5736.

Due to the variations in rainfall events, some area rivers and streams may be dirty and have greater flow. Lakes are in good condition and weeds are starting to die back. Trout streams are in excellent condition. For more information, call the Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Largemouth bass are biting well. There is an 18-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass on this lake. Check boat trailers for any presence of brittle naiad when leaving the boat ramp. Bluegill - Fair: Try fishing small jigs under a bobber or small worm on a hook fished near weed edges or sunken habitat. Largemouth Bass - Good: Crankbaits and rubber worms have been working excellent for largemouth bass.

Big Woods Lake
Largemouth bass are biting well around woody structures or sunken habitat mostly along the north shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: Crankbaits and rubber worms have been working excellent for largemouth bass.

Brinker Lake
There have been reports of crappie being taken on Brinker Lake. Crappie - Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber fished around sunken trees in 10 to 12 feet of water.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers have been catching crappie fishing off of the floating dock during the early to late morning hours. Crappie - Fair: Try floating a crappie minnow under a bobber or casting colored tube jigs.

Plainfield Lake
Largemouth bass fishing has been good during the early evening hours. Largemouth Bass - Good: Top water baits have been good during the early evening hours.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
River levels are currently falling. In Black Hawk and Bremer Counties channel catfish angling remains good. Fishing should improve towards the weekend without any additional rainfall through the week. Channel Catfish - Good: Most anything; cut baits, nightcrawlers, chicken livers fished on the bottom in most areas of the river has been productive on channel catfish. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Crankbaits or live baits work well this time of year. Look for woody structure or rock shorelines for smallmouth bass. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are picking up an occasional walleye, try using a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or casting crankbaits.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Walleye and smallmouth bass are being caught. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Jigs tipped with a twister and nightcrawler slowly retrieved off of the bottom or casting crankbaits can be productive. Walleye - Fair: Jig and twister tipped with a crawler or casting crankbaits work very well.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
The river is in fair condition in Buchanan County but is receiving additional rainfall. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing has been fair. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Jig tipped with a nightcrawler or crankbaits are working well for smallmouth bass. Walleye - Fair: Try a jig tipped with half a nightcrawler or casting crankbaits.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The river is currently rising and will probably be unfavorable by the weekend. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try nightcrawlers, dead cut baits or stink baits fished on the bottom of the river. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Crankbaits or live baits are working well on smallmouth bass. Walleye - Fair: Crankbaits or jig and crawler fished off of current breaks can be productive.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams have been high and muddy through most of the week; call the Manchester District Office for any additional information at 563-927-3276.

Interior river conditions may deteriorate quickly with the recent heavy rains, check USGS gages for most recent stream levels. Channel catfish have been biting well on most of the interior rivers with occasional walleye and smallmouth bass being caught. Anglers are still catching some crappie and bluegill on area Black Hawk and Bremer County lakes. Trout streams in the Manchester District remain high and muddy; call the Manchester District Office at 563-927-3276 for most recent stream conditions.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Pool 9
River level at Lansing is 10.9 feet and expected to remain near this level over next week. Army Road ramp at New Albin is now open but may become closed if rains bring water levels any higher. Village Creek and Heytman's ramps remain open as well. Northern Pike - Fair: Nice pike reported recently. As water temperature warms look for pike near the mouths of cold water springs or creeks. Channel Catfish - Good: Some good catches of catfish reported in the Big Lake area. This is a good time of year to use stink bait. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills still biting well in backwaters although vegetation is becoming thick and boating may be difficult. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish along exposed rock shorelines with current. Small spinners and jigs are working well for concentrated fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Decent largemouth fishing reported in Big Lake and around the shorelines in the Lansing area. Walleye - Fair: Still catching walleyes wing dam fishing, but bite has slowed. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are biting well using an egg sinker and worms near shoreline areas.

Mississippi River Pool 10
River level at Lynxville is 19.8 feet and expected remain near this level over the next week if the heavy rains stay away. Some boaters are reporting problems with floating vegetation. All boat ramps on Pool 10 are now open, but Sny Magill may become difficult to use or closed if flash floods bring Sny Magill creek out of its banks. Northern Pike - Fair: Some really nice pike reported lately. As water temperature warms look for pike near the mouths of cold water springs or creeks. Channel Catfish - Good: A lot of catfish being caught fishing crawlers in the Harpers Ferry area above and below the dam. This is the time of year when stink bait becomes very effective. Bluegill - Good: Good catches of bluegill reported below the dam near Harpers Ferry and in Bussey Lake. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish along exposed rock shoreline with current. Work the whole shoreline to look for pockets of active fish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Some decent catches of largemouth reported in backwaters of Pool 10 but many are smaller. Remember largemouth bass must be 14 inches to keep. Walleye - Fair: A few walleyes being caught near wing dams and bottoms of running sloughs. Some eyes are also coming out of Harpers Slough by folks using worm rigs. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are still biting well, with most anglers using an egg sinker and nightcrawlers for bait.

Mississippi River Pool 11
River level at Guttenberg is 11.2 feet and is expected to rise over the week. Ramps are open at Guttenberg, but the Turkey River access and Mud lake ramps may be affected by flash flooding. Lower Pool 11 below the Turkey River will be high and muddy and carrying flood debris. Channel Catfish - Good: Fishing for catfish on stink bait is getting better. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill fishing really starting to pick up in backwaters. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Smallies are still hitting along rocky areas in the upper part of the pool, but as turbidity and water levels increase they may be harder to find. Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass are hitting pretty well in the upper part of the pool along shorelines. They tend to be on the small side and remember they need to be 14 inches to keep. Walleye - Slow: Rising water levees are making wing dam fishing more difficult. Freshwater Drum - Good: Drum are biting well on worm fished on the bottom. Drum are one of the fish that continue to bite well in rising and muddy waters.

Very heavy rains fell recently over the lower half of Clayton County and Dubuque County raising water levels and turbidity from Guttenberg south. Lower Pool 11 below the Turkey River will be high and muddy for a while. Pools 9 and 10 have not yet received heavy rains, and although river levels are high, the river is not as muddy, especially in backwaters and many fishing opportunities still exist. Water temperature is in the lower 80s.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River stage at Lock and Dam 11 in Dubuque is 14 feet and quickly rising. Torrential rain in the area overnight has caused extensive flooding and the river is rising rapidly. The river is forecast to rise to nearly 16 feet by the end of the day then recede. The river is forecast to be down to 12 feet on Sunday. Water is very turbid and full of debris. Going out on the river is not recommended until water levels drop.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River stage in Bellevue is 14.85 feet and quickly rising. Torrential rain in the area overnight has caused extensive flooding and the river is rising rapidly. The river is forecast to rise to 17 feet by the end of the day then recede. The river is forecast to be down to 12.5 feet on Sunday. Water is very turbid and full of debris. Going out on the river is not recommended until water levels drop.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River stage below Lock and Dam 13 is 11.28 feet and will quickly rise over the next day before receding. Torrential rain in the area overnight has caused extensive flooding and the river is rising rapidly. Water is very turbid and full of debris. Going out on the river is not recommended until water levels drop.

For fishing information in Pool 12-15 of the Mississippi River contact the Bellevue Fish Management and Research Station at 563-872-4976

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 10.55 feet. River level has risen over the past few days due to recent heavy rains. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and stink bait. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel or side sloughs. White Bass - No Report: Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 9.60 feet. River level have risen over the past few days due to recent heavy rains. The ramp at Big Timber is closed once again due to the recent rise in river level. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and stink bait. Trying fishing above snags along the main channel or in side sloughs. Some fish are being caught along GPC. White Bass - No Report: Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 11.29 feet. River level has risen once again over the past week due to recent heavy rains. We have received no fishing information for this pool this week. Channel Catfish - No Report: Bluegill - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tail water stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 7.66 feet. River level has risen over the past week due to recent heavy rains. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers, stink baits, and chicken livers. Try fishing above snag piles along the main channel or in the sloughs. Bluegill - No Report: Largemouth Bass - No Report: Crappie - No Report: Walleye - No Report:

Pools 16-19: River level has risen since last weekend due to recent heavy rains. River levels and ramp conditions could change due to the recent heavy rains upriver. Main channel water temperature is around 85 degrees and water clarity is poor. Fishing has been slow due to the hot weather. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat before going to another water body. For more fishing information on Pools 16-19 contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST
Lake Odessa
The Toolesboro road is open as of July 23. All the ramps are now open and cleared off for anglers to use to put their boats in. The water level will continue to fall as there is still some water up in the trees. Bluegill - Fair: With a little work and knowledge of the lake anglers are catching some big bluegills. Work the deeper water of the Sand Run and Yankee chute areas. Crappie - Fair: There are some slab crappies being caught along the trees dropped into deeper water. Also try down in Burris ditch near the outlet.

Lake Belva Deer
The water temperature is up to 81 degrees. The thermocline is 6 to 8 feet deep. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing remained good during the evening hours. Chicken liver and cut bait are good things to try. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills have moved out to deeper water. Look for them to be around the trees in the old creek channel.

Pollmiller Park Lake
Channel Catfish - Excellent: 1 to 3 pound fish are common. Fish during the cooler parts of the day along the face of the dam. Nightcrawlers seem to be working the best. Bluegill - Good: Light tackle and small baits such as wax worms are a must. Still good numbers of fish up to 9 inches are being caught. Look for them around the deeper habitat. Largemouth Bass - Good: The evenings are producing the best fishing. During the heat of the day look for the fish to be around the deep structure. Bouncing jigs or plastics on the bottom seems to work the best.

Lake of the Hills
Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish in the 2 to 4-pound range are common. Liver and various stink baits are working best. Bluegill - Good: Once you find the right depth (they're out deep) and the habitat, you can do well. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish the early mornings or late evenings around the stump field and sunken logs using top water lures.

Railroad Lake
Channel Catfish - Good: Fishing along the old creek channel with liver or stink baits should get you some nice eating-size catfish. Bluegill - Good: Fish the north side around the stumps and logs or in the tree falls or by the recycling containers and you should catch some bluegills.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi River)
The river continues to drop. Water temperature during the day is around 86 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing has been good. Try a few freshly caught grass frogs as bait.

For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

Lake Macbride
The 10 hp maximum motor restriction is in effect. The invasive plant Brittle Naiad is found here, so make sure to inspect and clean your boat/trailer when leaving the lake. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try a variety of lures around shallow rock or wood. Some fish have been caught on deeper rock/points using crankbaits. Early and late in the day are best.

Pleasant Creek Lake
Remember, there is an 18-inch minimum on largemouth bass here. The invasive plant brittle naiad is here, so make sure to inspect and clean your boat/trailer when leaving the lake. Channel Catfish - Slow: Try fishing along the dam or other rocky areas with stink bait, liver, or crawlers. White Bass - Slow: Try jigs, spinners, small spoons, or small crankbaits. Many fish have been small, but nice sized fish are available. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits, soft plastics, or crawlers. Walleye - Slow: Most fish have been small but they are being caught on live bait rigs and crankbaits. Target depths around 15 feet.

Diamond Lake
Remember, no minnows are allowed here. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers using stink bait have been catching catfish, especially early and late in the day.

Coralville Reservoir
The lake elevation on July 28 is at normal summer pool of 683.3 feet. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try crawlers or cut bait in areas with some flow.

Maquoketa (Hopkinton to Canton)
Channel Catfish - Good: Use chicken liver or stink bait for best results. Night fishing has been the most productive.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Red Haw Lake
Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs fished around the rock jetties. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler along shoreline structure. Largemouth Bass - Good: Rubber worms and spinner baits are usually good this time of year. Try areas around the jetties and along the shoreline.

Hawthorn Lake (aka Barnes City Lake)
The lake was drained for a lake renovation last year but work is now complete and the lake is full. New fish habitat areas have been built along with some new jetties.

Albia (lower)
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler within 10 feet of the shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Good: Try plastic worms fished along the shoreline. Try tossing spinner baits along the dam and other rocky areas of the shoreline.

Lake Miami
Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having some success in the evenings using cut bait or dead chubs. Try along the east shoreline. Largemouth Bass - Slow: Use spinner baits tossed along the shorelines and off shore structure.

Lake Sugema
Bluegill - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler around shoreline structure or standing timber. Some sorting will be necessary for larger fish. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Try top water baits fished in the early morning or late evening hours. Fish rocky areas with a jig n' pig combo.

Rathbun Reservoir
The lake level is at 910.72 feet with 904.0 feet being normal pool. Water temperature have been in the mid 80s. Don't forget Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels so make sure to clean, drain, and dry boats before transporting to another water body. Spray boats and trailers with high pressure hot water (above 104 degrees) or let them dry for at least 10 days (5 days in sun). Channel Catfish - Fair: Use dead chubs or chicken liver fished in bays and coves. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs or minnows. Areas along the shore with overhanging trees or vegetation are good places to start. Small chrome colored crankbaits can also work this time of year. Walleye - Fair: Try nightcrawler rigs and bottom bouncers. With the higher lake levels the walleye are spread out so try new areas. Try fishing baits that mimic small shad like chrome colored crankbaits or blade baits. Tagged walleyes should be reported at 641-647-2406.

For further fishing reports in south central Iowa call the Rathbun fish hatchery at 641-647-2406

SOUTHWEST
Beaver Lake
Bluegill - Good: Large bluegill are being caught fishing crawlers near any of the flooded trees.

Big Creek Lake
White Bass - Good: White bass are providing some action, especially late in the afternoon and evenings. Mid lake has been best, look for them on the windblown side of the lake. They can often be seen breaking the surface. Cast jigs or shallow running crankbaits. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are being caught drifting pieces of nightcrawler over the roadbeds and brush piles that are in 15 feet of water or less. Crappie - Fair: Drifting small twister tail or tube jigs mid-lake and over any of the roadbeds is producing a few crappie. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught on the upper third of the lake by drifting or jigging nightcrawlers, or casting and trolling crankbaits. Do not fish water deeper than 15 feet. Many fish being caught are sublegal, but fish over 15 inches are coming in. Check legal size fish for yellow tags near the tail. If one is caught follow the instructions on the signs at the boat ramps.

Hickory Grove Lake
Bluegill - Excellent: Bluegill fishing has been excellent. They are being caught drifting small pieces of crawler or still fishing over the pallet piles near the island and off the south shoreline across from the island. Bluegill are good size with some going over 9 inches. Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being caught drifting throughout the lake. Use small tube jigs, jigs with small spinners, or live minnows.

Lake Ahquabi
Bluegill - Good: Decent bluegill and large redear sunfish are being caught with crawlers fished in any open pockets of vegetation.

Red Rock Reservoir
White Bass - Fair: Continued hot weather should increase white bass activity. Look for schools of shad busting the surface. Trolling lipless crankbaits to find fish is the preferred method. Try multiple colors to find their preference. Good starting colors are chrome or a blue/chrome combo. Teeter Creek and west of the mile long bridge are usually good areas.

Saylorville Reservoir
White Bass - Excellent: Hot weather and good shad numbers are creating some good white bass fishing right now. Good action is being found all over the lake, just look for shad schools breaking the surface. Cast spoons and lipless crankbaits.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Good: Wipers are chasing shad and can be seen breaking the surface. Anglers are having fun casting into this action. The wipers are currently around 17 inches and it is recommended to turn most fish back. This will allow for some exciting fishing for large wipers in the near future.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake)
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Channel catfish are being caught in good numbers on cut bait and stink bait. Stink bait is currently out fishing cut bait. White Bass - Fair: Anglers casting jigs or crankbaits below the Saylorville spillway are getting in to some white bass. Evenings have been best. Walleye - Fair: Anglers trolling crankbaits that dive 6 to 12 feet in the river below Saylorville are catching some nice walleye. This method is also catching white bass, wipers, and smallmouth bass.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish - Good: Good numbers of 4 to 8 pound catfish are being caught on cut bait. White Bass - Fair: The white bass bite is fair below the Red Rock spillway casting jigs or drifting minnows under a bobber.

South Skunk River (Story City to Cambridge)
Smallmouth Bass - Good: Anglers wade fishing are catching decent numbers of smallmouth between Story City and Ames using inline spinners or small crawfish colored crankbaits.

Morning and evening bites are best now with the hot days. The exception is the white bass on the reservoirs, which are starting to turn on. Crappie are being caught suspended by drifting in deeper water. Bluegill are being caught fishing near brush piles, pallets, and the edges of vegetation in lakes that have it. Don't fish too deep, most lakes now have a thermocline between 6 and 10 feet. For information on central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd or Andy Otting at 515-432-2823.

Greenfield Lake
Greenfield has one concrete boat ramp. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are being caught around jetties using shrimp. Fish average 2 pounds. Bluegill - Slow: 7 to 8-inch bluegill can be caught drifting small jigs. Largemouth Bass - Good: Many 12 to 15-inch largemouth are being caught casting around jetties and weed edges. Crappie - Slow: A few crappies are being caught in the evenings along the dam using minnows.

Nodaway Lake
Nodaway has one small boat ramp. Water temperature is in the low 80s and the lake has a slight algae bloom. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are being caught along the north shoreline and the dam with dip bait. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill are being caught around brush piles with nightcrawlers. Crappie - Slow: Crappies can be caught trolling jigs around brush piles in 10 to 12 feet of water. Fish average 9 inches with a few 11-inch fish being caught. Evenings seem to be best.

Orient Lake
Orient Lake has one concrete boat ramp. Water temperatures remain in the low 80s. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfish are close to rocky shorelines and being caught on shrimp. Fish average 14 to 18 inches.

Cold Springs Lake
Cold Springs has one concrete boat ramp. Water temperature is 84 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught in less than 6 feet of water using cut bait. Fish average 2.5 pounds.

Lake Anita
Lake Anita has two concrete ramps and good water quality. Water temperature has reached 80 degrees. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills up to 9 inches are being caught drifting and around brush piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are being caught along the road beds and in brush piles. Bass are all sizes up to 20 inches. Crappie - Slow: The crappies being caught are around brush piles and underwater reefs. Late afternoon is the best bite. Fish average 9 inches.

Willow Lake
Willow has one concrete boat ramp and excellent water clarity. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish can be caught along the campground shoreline and around jetties using dip bait. Bluegill - Fair: The best bluegill bite is early in the morning using nightcrawlers under a bobber. Fish average 8 inches. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are being caught using power bait worms around sunken trees. Most fish are 12 to 14 inches.

Viking Lake
Viking Lake has four feet of water clarity and three concrete boat ramps. Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing has been fair in the evenings around the jetties using liver. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass in the sunken cedar trees using plastic baits. Casting spinner baits along weed edges has also produced fish up to 20 inches.

Lake Manawa
Manawa is full and has a slight algal bloom. Water temperature is above 80 degrees. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on the west and south side of the lake using shrimp or Sonny's dip bait. Fish up to 6 pounds have been reported.

Cold Springs District Farm Ponds
There are numerous farm ponds in southern Iowa that can provide a quality fishing trip. Remember to always get permission to fish private farm ponds. Aquatic vegetation is starting to come on. Small boats or bass buggies will aid in fishing small ponds this time of year. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish can be caught using a variety of prepared baits in the summer. Fish in 3 to 6 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Fish for bluegills around deeper structure and outside edges of vegetation. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are aggressive now and can be caught casting around structure and along the shoreline. Early morning and late evenings are the best times to target largemouth.

Water temperature continues above the 80 degrees. Bluegills and crappies remain deep with the warm water. Catfishing has been good early morning or late afternoon in many areas. For more information on fishing call the district office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.

Lake Icaria
The water level is near normal. Water clarity is near 24 inches at the dam. Channel Catfish - Good: A lot of channel catfish are being caught from the mounds and areas less than eight feet deep on small jigs and crawlers. Bluegill - Fair: Several bluegills can be caught from the mounds using crawlers.

Lake of Three Fires
The water level is near normal and the clarity is good. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Green Valley Lake
The lake is being lowered to allow the sediment removal project to continue. The lake is accessible and the main concrete ramp is easily usable. Fish are growing well. Channel Catfish - Good: Several mid-sized channel catfish are being caught on liver from the shoreline areas around the camp ground and along the dam.

Three Mile Lake
The water level is normal. Channel Catfish - Good: Shallow coves are producing several channel catfish after dark. Crappie - Fair: A few scattered crappies are coming from the timber and coves.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The water level is normal. Bullhead - Good: Several giant bullheads can be caught using crawlers or liver from most areas of the lake. Bluegill - Fair: Several big bluegills are biting on crawlers fished over the mounds and steep drop-offs.

Water temperatures are above 85 degrees. Water levels are normal or down slightly. Most lakes have an established thermocline ranging from 15 feet to as shallow as 5 feet. Water clarity is normal for mid-summer.